OBJETIVO: Investigar a relação entre a flexibilidade da flexão e extensão das articulações glenoumerais (GU) e coxofemorais (CF) e o desempenho funcional (DF) de idosas funcionalmente independentes e fisicamente ativas. MÉTODOS: Determinou-se em 22 voluntárias (idade=70±6 anos) seis conjuntos de amplitudes de movimentos por goniometria ativo-assistida (ADM) na flexão e extensão das GU e CF. O DF foi determinado pelos testes: velocidade de caminhada habitual (VCH) e máxima (VCM); levantar e sentar em cadeira (LSC); Timed up and Go Test (TUGT); vestir blusa (VBL); subir degraus (SE); levantar do decúbito dorsal (LDD); pegar moeda no solo (PMS); teste de caminhada de seis minutos (TC6M). As associações entre as variáveis ADM e o DF foram testadas por técnicas de correlação simples e múltipla. RESULTADOS: Houve correlações significantes (p<0,05) entre as ADM de CF e os testes LSC (r=0,42 e r=0,45), SE (r=0,52 e r=0,53) e TC6M (r=0,58 e r=0,59) (lados direito e esquerdo, respectivamente). A correlação múltipla ratificou esses resultados (r²=0,51; p<0,05), indicando que 51% da variância nos testes deveu-se à ADM de CF. Não houve associações significantes entre as ADMs de GU e os testes de DF. CONCLUSÕES: Verificou-se associação significante entre a flexibilidade ativo-assistida de CF e alguns testes específicos de DF. Nenhuma relação foi identificada para ADM de GU. Estudos adicionais são necessários para elucidar as relações entre flexibilidade passiva de diferentes grupos articulares e a funcionalidade de idosos.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between flexibility of flexion and extension of the glenohumeral and coxofemoral joints and functional performance among physically active and functionally independent elderly women. METHODS: Six sets of range of motion (ROM) measurements relating to flexion and extension of the glenohumeral and coxofemoral joints were determined in 22 volunteers (age 70±6 years), using assisted-active goniometry. Functional performance was measured using the following tests: normal walking speed (NWS); maximum walking speed (MWS); sit-to-stand test (SST); timed up and go test (TUGT); putting on a blouse (PBL); going up stairs (GUS); rising from dorsal decubitus (RDD); picking up a coin from the floor (PCF); and 6-minute walk test (6WT). The relationships between the ROM variables and functional performance were tested using simple and multiple regression techniques. RESULTS: There were significant correlations (p<0.05) between coxofemoral ROM and the SST (r=0.42 and r=0.45), GUS (r=0.52 and r=0.53) and 6WT (r=0.58 and r=0.59) (right and left sides, respectively). The multiple regression ratified the results (r²=0.51; p<0.05), thus indicating that coxofemoral ROM accounted for 51% of the variance in the tests. There were no significant correlations between the glenohumeral ROMs and the functional performance tests. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between assisted-active flexibility of the coxofemoral joint and some specific functional performance tests. No relationship involving glenohumeral ROM was identified. Additional studies are needed in order to elucidate the relationships between passive flexibility of different joint groups and functional performance in elderly people.

A heminested-PCR (hn-PCR) using primers to the nucleoprotein-coding gene in a nested set was evaluated in the detection of Brazilian strains of rabies virus (RV). A representative number of RV nucleoprotein sequences belonging to genotype 1 were aligned. Based on such alignment, primers were directed to highly conserved regions. All 42 clinical samples positive by both fluorescent antibody and mouse inoculation tests were also positive by the hn-PCR. Brain tissue that had been left to decompose, obtained from an experimentally inoculated mouse was tested by hn-PCR and yielded positive results. In conclusion, primers designed here were capable of amplifying Brazilian RV isolates obtained from a rural epidemiological cycle.